Operation Guardian, a commercial vehicle enforcement initiative launched by Gov. Kevin Stitt in November 2024, has sparked fear and controversy among residents in Oklahoma.
The operation, which involves more than 700 Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) troopers assisting ICE in identifying, detaining, and transferring undocumented immigrants with criminal histories, has been met with mixed reactions.
Mikelaurie De La Cruz, a Ponca City resident, expressed her concerns about the operation’s impact on her community. “We’re just trying to have a better life for ourselves, our children,” she said.
De La Cruz, whose family is originally from Monterey, shared her fears, stating, “It’s scary for all of us. Including myself. It’s just something where you don’t even know what to think because you have friends risking themselves going to work and you don’t know if they’re gonna come home.”
In a sweep conducted in November, 160 commercial vehicles were stopped for inspections, resulting in 76 arrests for immigration violations.
Another sweep earlier that month on I-40 led to 70 arrests, with 34 involving commercial vehicle operators.
Despite the operation’s stated goal of keeping Oklahomans safe by removing dangerous criminals, resistance has grown.
An organization called Tulsa Fights Fascism has circulated information on social media about the violations OHP is targeting.
Some individuals have even shared the governor’s phone number and a script to oppose the operation.
Fernando Ochoa, who instructs the immigrant community, argued that the operation creates fear, discourages crime reporting, and damages trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
De La Cruz echoed this sentiment, saying, “They shouldn’t be scared. We should all be united.”
The results of the latest operation along the I-35 corridor near the Kansas border are yet to be disclosed, as OHP declined to comment.
